disk cleanup utility hangs...

  • Thread starter Thread starter mitch0401
  • Start date Start date
M

mitch0401

I'm having a problem with my disk clean-up utility. It
hangs forever without going to the screen where it lists
how much space can be cleaned, and allows you to do so.
After searching the knowledge base, I found that it is a
common problem, and involves deleting a corrupt registry
key from the utility file. I realize editing registry
keys in regedit is risky, but I carefully wrote down the
instructions for backing up the key and deleting it. The
problem is that I am unable to reach the "TestSubKey"
subkey or the "TestDWORD" Dword value.
The instructions call for going to the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current
Version\Explorer\Volume Caches\Compress Old Files
When I reach the 'Compress Old Files' it is an
unexpandable folder which when clicked on reveals 4 lines
of text in the right column of regedit. The 4 lines are
as follows:

Name type Data
(Default) REG_SZ
Priority REG_DWORD 0x0000012c (300)
State Flags REG_DWORD 0x000 etc.
State Flags0010 REG_DWORD 0x00 etc.

At this point I am supposed to "click on 'TestSubKey'
subkey, Rt. click on 'TestDWORD' Dword value,
click 'delete' and then click 'yes' to confirm. The
problem is that I can not find the 'TestSubKey'. When I
click on any of the 4 line to the right (Rt. or Lt.)
nothing happens, and I am basically stuck at
the 'Compress Old Files' folder, trying to locate the
TestSubKey. Is there something I should be doing besides
just clicking on the folder?
If any one can offer any help here (directly, or by
referring me somewhere else) I would really appreciate
it. As any one knows, without the disk clean up utility
my HD will eventually become full of old cookies and
temp. files. I have downloaded a free-ware disk cleaner
which works well, but it is only a trial version and will
expire in 30 days. I need to have the windows utility
working, which BTW is Windows XP Pro.
Thanks for any help that can be offered!
 
Try the following web sites for troubleshooting suggestions:

Visit http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm and scroll
down to Line #48. In the right-hand window, click on
"Disk Cleanup - Compress Old Files Freezes"

Simply click on Kelly's fix, download the registry fix, then run it.
(Note: Disable your antivirus program before running the repair script)

[Courtesy of Kelly Theriot, MS-MVP]


Applicable Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:

Disk Cleanup Tool Stops Responding While Compressing Old Files
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812248


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| I'm having a problem with my disk clean-up utility. It
| hangs forever without going to the screen where it lists
| how much space can be cleaned, and allows you to do so.
| After searching the knowledge base, I found that it is a
| common problem, and involves deleting a corrupt registry
| key from the utility file. I realize editing registry
| keys in regedit is risky, but I carefully wrote down the
| instructions for backing up the key and deleting it. The
| problem is that I am unable to reach the "TestSubKey"
| subkey or the "TestDWORD" Dword value.
| The instructions call for going to the registry key:
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current
| Version\Explorer\Volume Caches\Compress Old Files
| When I reach the 'Compress Old Files' it is an
| unexpandable folder which when clicked on reveals 4 lines
| of text in the right column of regedit. The 4 lines are
| as follows:
|
| Name type Data
| (Default) REG_SZ
| Priority REG_DWORD 0x0000012c (300)
| State Flags REG_DWORD 0x000 etc.
| State Flags0010 REG_DWORD 0x00 etc.
|
| At this point I am supposed to "click on 'TestSubKey'
| subkey, Rt. click on 'TestDWORD' Dword value,
| click 'delete' and then click 'yes' to confirm. The
| problem is that I can not find the 'TestSubKey'. When I
| click on any of the 4 line to the right (Rt. or Lt.)
| nothing happens, and I am basically stuck at
| the 'Compress Old Files' folder, trying to locate the
| TestSubKey. Is there something I should be doing besides
| just clicking on the folder?
| If any one can offer any help here (directly, or by
| referring me somewhere else) I would really appreciate
| it. As any one knows, without the disk clean up utility
| my HD will eventually become full of old cookies and
| temp. files. I have downloaded a free-ware disk cleaner
| which works well, but it is only a trial version and will
| expire in 30 days. I need to have the windows utility
| working, which BTW is Windows XP Pro.
| Thanks for any help that can be offered!
 
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